Bell Jar

Rating:
Summary: Got me thinking how much I value my life!!!
Review: The Bell Jar got me slightly depressed, however I absolutly adored this book. It was about a girl that has quite a few problems that she has a hard time dealing with. It is very clear that Sylvia Plath has her own problems and she revolves them around the life as Esther,who she portrays. It is sad how she has to get shock treatments. What I learned is that in the beginning of the book she talks about not wanting to ever be electocuted, like the Rosenbergs. Then when she is going a little crazy, the doctors think she will benefit from electric shock therapy. Anyway I loved this book, and it is the best book I have ever read.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best novels I have ever read!!!
Review: When someone asks me what my favorite novel is, I always say, "When I want to read a book twice, that will be my favorite book." Well, this is it. I would read every page over again. Her metaphors and similes are simply breathtaking, and the vivid descriptions of her thoughts and inner feelings are amazing! I would highly recommend this novel to everyone! It may take one a little while to get into the novel, but you will not regret it.

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful depiction of real life struggles!
Review: Sylvia manged to capture all emotions in a real-life, down-to earth story of her life.

Rating:
Summary: Harrowing and hilarious
Review: The fact that I have read this book at least 50 times probably makes me the most unobjective reviewer possible. Still, having read many other reviews of The Bell Jar, I am struck by the fact that most readers respond mainly to the harrowing portrayal of Esther's descent into madness rather than the wry, biting humor with which Plath describes it. Certainly, as a 19 year old college student myself, reading the novel as an easy way out of an assignment to get to know a modern American poet, I was most taken in by Plath's cynicism. Still, although cynical and satirical, this book approaches greatness because it hacks through the false outer shell of the world and divulges the ugly truth that everything means nothing...or nothing means anything, which is a great tragedy for a young, brilliant woman like Esther who has so much to look forward to. Unfortunately, she discovers that all of her hard work and success aren't going to pay off in any meaningful way. She may walk out of her psychiatrist's office in full control (at the end of the book) but one senses that the lesson she's learned, that something's wrong with everyone, will die hard. The ability to do all this with a sense of humor is amazing, not to mention that her use of simile is, perhaps, the best ever.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully Cynical
Review: How wonderful. I'm in love. Broken glass on my bathroom floor has never looked more tempting.

Rating:
Summary: No insight
Review: This book should be read in sequence (or parallel) with The Atom Station (by Halldor Laxness), and maybe along with The Unreality Industry. Why? Because, gripping and chilling as it is, it offers no clear insight into why the woman was isolated, but leaves one with the feeling that it was the disease of society, the isolation of a weak person in the megalopolis. The evidence of her instability was not shown in the early part of the book, where she appeared 'normal' and then slipped into insanity.

Rating:
Summary: Captivating and Breathtaking
Review: Sylvia Plath has demonstrated the actual findings of defining your true inner self. Although her suicide was her way out of trying to define herself, she did leave with us Esther Greenwood. @ the end of the story, Esther did find the light @ the end of the tunnel. Again, this book is breathtaking. A must read!

Rating:
Summary: An unbelievable account of depression and madness.
Review: Slyvia Plath's "The Bell Jar" was an amazing book that kept me reading till the end. This account of Esther Greenwood's desent into madness is a fasinating read! The story stars a nineteen year old Ester who won a summer in New York working for a fashion magizine. The one month in New York is where Esther starts to show her change. She returns home only to be commited to a santerium. Plath is an amazing writer and "The Bell Jar" proves this. I would recomend this book to anyone who is a fan of Plath's poetry, or to anyone who hasnt heard of her. It's definaly a book i will buy and read more than once.

Rating:
Summary: Terrifyingly Realistic In It's Depiction Of Insanity
Review: As a sufferer from depression,I could relate strongly to the themes explored in the book,particuarly Esther's attempts at trying to find something more and in so doing composes her symphony of madness that I will never forget.I remember, instead of going back to grammar school I went to a technical college which involved a totally different scenario and very nearly drove me to suicide.I remember the self loathing and my self-imprisonment in my home and the boredom and sense of failure that consumed me.Plath depicts depression as something that you can't "snap out of" something which alienates and confuses the individual.My only qualm about the novel was that she didn't really touch on these areas of self-loathing and paranoia that I suffered which meant that I was alone but all mental illness is indigenous and I have this book to remind me of that.John Mc Kenna

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant and effective
Review: I found Sylvia Plath`s novel, "The Bell Jar" to be a genuinely moving and brutally honest read. Plath`s untouchable use of words are so keen and vivid, reading her book is almost like watching a film. "The Bell Jar" is about a young and talented woman named Esther Greenwood. After a won trip to New York City, Esther slowly recognizes her new found feelings of despair, and starts to feel herself and her life sinking deeper and deeper into a profound depression. The book`s journey from sanity to madness is captivating and almost harrowing, as we witness the hell the protagonist must endure. The most incredible thing about "The Bell Jar" is how is remains so subtle and natural, but still manifests terror to it`s highest degree. Sylvia Plath`s heart is written on every page, and reading "The Bell Jar" will give you a good relfection of her bitter but realistic view on herself, humanity, America and life. A definite must-read.